Accra, Ghana//-The 2021 report of the Ghana’s Auditor-General (A-G) has revealed that eight tenants owed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority a whopping amount of GH¢3.7 million in rent.
It noted that the Authority’s lease agreement requires its tenants pay their rent in advance (quarterly, yearly, or half-yearly).
However, the A-G in its report stated: “We noted that eight out of the 16 tenants, occupying portions of Accra Shippers House and Takoradi Shippers Centre owed rent to the tune of GH¢3,692,457.71 as of 31 December 2020. The period of the rent due ranges from four to 48 months. Details are shown in table 397”.
The situation has “denied the Authority rent revenue of GH¢3,692,457.71 if not recovered”, the report said.
It therefore urged the Authority to “pursue the defaulters for the rent arrears of GH¢3,692,457.71 or terminate the tenancy agreement, accordingly”.
However the management of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority blamed the non-collection of its rents on the COVID-19 pandemic which broke in the country on 12th March 2020.
The management explained:“These arrears happened as a result of the Covid-19 which affected the activities of some of the companies who appealed for waivers as well as additional time to reorganise and pay. Indeed, some companies have made part-payments, as a result of the pressure from management since the observations were issued”.
